We're Home

We've been home from the hospital since Monday (or was it Tuesday) the 11th, and the adjustments have begun! Selah's not sleeping much at night, but great during the day. She's up about every 2 hours, which means Mom gets sleep in 45 minute increments...so, that's why I haven't posted lately! THANK GOD FOR BRAD BRADLEY!!! Wow. He's been VERY supportive and helpful with EVERYTHING going on with this huge transition. It's TOTALLY different with 2 kids now (of course), but I definetely didn't and couldn't anticipate how tough it would be. At least I have the BEST husband in the world! He's off for 2 weeks and has been entertaining his "new best friend", Carson while Selah and I are still in "survival mode." I'll definetely post a pic of him doing housework because that doesn't ever happen! The 1st time I saw him folding laundry, I thought I was going to fall out! Miracles DO happen every day! :)

Carson, on the other hand, is a different story! He was all excited about being a big brother in the hospital, but I don't think he realized what we meant by "we are coming home." The 1st few days were the worst when he would cover her face with the blanket, squish beside her and lay on her, and fun "brotherly love" like that. Then he broke my heart--he told me one night that he liked my clothes, but didn't like or love me anymore. I know it seems silly, but I was so hurt. Yes, I know he's 3 and he doesn't know how to totally express his feelings yet, but it still stung. I tried not to take it personally, but with all these HORMONES, the wind can blow the wrong way and I cry! :)

Carson will start Mom's Day Out 3 days a week next week when Brad goes back to work and I think that will help him. That'll give me a chance to get some sleep and get into some type of "normalcy."

Feel free to call and visit us! Selah is just precious and it's nice to have visitors every once in a while. Just try to give us a days notice and we'd love to have ya! The house is still not finished (still waiting on the nursery furniture to be completed), but shame on anyone who comes to see how clean my house is! I'd hope you'd learned by now that our home isn't dirty--it's lived in! :)

*One Proud Pops!*

*Karate chop--Ya!*

Selah Hart Bradley

Well, imagine that! I FINALLY gave birth! Selah was born on September 8th at 8:43 am. She was 8 lbs and 20" long! She definetely had her momma's thighs and fat cheeks. We jokingly said that because of her "thick jowels," she couldn't open her eyes for 3 days! :) She has a head full of blonde hair, but it looks to have a little bit of red in it--to match her firery personality! It all started about 1:15am on Saturday morning with contractions and we got to the hospital about 3:30am. I was already 3-4cm and was doing ok, but went ahead and got some "Nuvein" to take the edge off. We got to 5cm and I was game for the epidural. *Ladies who are expecting: not that I'm telling you how your labor should/will go, but if your water hasn't broken on its own and doc has to do it, I recommend the epidural before that takes place! I didn't do this with Carson and I DO remember the pain intensifying at that point! Just a friendly word of advice...anyways, so Dr. Freeman broke my water after the epidural and about an hour 1/2 later I was ready for the finale! 10 minutes of pushing and TA DA--she's here! At one point the doc told me I was pushing too hard, which I found ironic because I couldn't tell how hard I was pushing--I couldn't feel a thing (thank God!). The comedy of all this hard pushing is that I didn't eat a "heavy" breakfast because I got sick with Carson and I didn't want to be sick this time around...well, my Nutrigrain bar wore off QUICK, and needless to say, there's nothing grouchier than a woman in labor AND hungry! So, no matter what I said to the nurses, they wouldn't let me eat (Ladies who are expecting--take note!!!). Brad lost his mind at one point and came in with food for himself...so I "lovingly" asked him to eat it in the hallway, which he graciously did. Needless to say, since I am passionate about my food/meals, I was bound and determined to hurry up and get that baby out of me so I could EAT! :)

*This is the shape that "Nuvein" will put you in!*

*Check out those cheeks!!!*

The Baby's Here!

Donkey, that is! :) We've had this donkey for about 3 years now and she was supposedly pregnant when we got her...well, she finally had a baby! No, she wasn't pregnant for 3 years, but at least something around here is having babies because Selah isn't coming any time soon!

This is Carson and Charlie (mini donkey that we board). Charlie acts more like a dog than a donkey demanding attention and such.

It looks like Brad caught this rooster in mid-air, but he didn't...Carson loves it when he catches them! They look greasy, but their not--unless their deep-fried! Actually, you don't EAT roosters...just simple kuntri-style FYI for ya.

This is "Carson's motorcycle." It's actually a pit bike that Brad "got for Carson," but come on, does he REALLY think I believe that? Brad was impressing Carson and I on Nathan's dirt bike. He said I need to learn to ride on this one because it's an automatic and only a 2 stroke, but the seat's almost up to my shoulders! I'll definetely learn to ride when Carson does so that I can keep up with him AND to spend time with him doing what I know is in his blood naturally--racin'! Who knows! When Selah turns 4 (IF she ever gets out of my belly!), she might take up dirt bikes too! :)